Russ Ball-ology: How to Get Rodgers and Matthews Signed

For those who appreciate numbers about as much as a two-by-four to the jimmy, I would recommend moving along. Nothing to see here. For those of you who think you can take the pain, I have an invitation into Russ Ball’s world and the mind-numbing mayhem of the NFL salary cap.

This time of year is Russ Ball’s time. Ball is Ted Thompson’s cap addict and chief negotiator of player contracts. If reports are to be believed, then Mr. Ball is currently working on likely the biggest contract in NFL history AND the biggest defensive contract in NFL history, simultaneously.

Many Green Bay Packers fans may wonder how a team with around $20 million in cap space can afford to sign two of the most lucrative contracts in NFL history at the same time. Others are concerned about the Packers ability to pay anyone else once they have gotten Rodgers and Matthews to sign on the dotted line.

Well, beyond merely telling you how this can be done, I have actually done it. I have constructed contracts for both players that keep the Packers under the salary cap for 2013, mitigate the percentage of cap used in the foreseeable future, AND present very lucrative and attractive offers that neither player is likely to pass on.

Aaron Rodgers: 6 years, $138 million, $70 million guaranteed

AARON RODGERS

Year

Salary

Signing Bonus

Other Bonus

Cap Hit

2013

$2,000,000

$6,000,000

0

$8,000,000

2014

$6,000,000

$6,000,000

$4,500,000

$16,500,000

2015

$12,000,000

$6,000,000

$4,500,000

$22,500,000

2016

$12,000,000

$6,000,000

$4,500,000

$22,500,000

2017

$18,000,000

$6,000,000

$4,500,000

$28,500,000

2018

$20,500,000

$19,500,000

$40,000,000

6

$138,000,000.00

Signing Bonus

$30 million

$23,000,000.00

2014 Roster Bonus

$20 million

Guaranteed Salaries

2013-2015

2018 Roster Bonus

$15 million

Pro Bowl or Playoffs Bonus

$2.5 million

Clay Matthews: 6 years, $97 million, $50 million guaranteed

CLAY MATTHEWS

2013

$1,000,000

$4,000,000

$10,000,000

$15,000,000

2014

$2,000,000

$4,000,000

$4,000,000

$10,000,000

2015

$6,000,000

$4,000,000

$4,000,000

$14,000,000

2016

$10,000,000

$4,000,000

$4,000,000

$18,000,000

2017

$12,000,000

$4,000,000

$4,000,000

$20,000,000

2018

$16,000,000

$4,000,000

$20,000,000

Signing Bonus

$20 million

6

$97,000,000.00

2013 Roster Bonus

$10 million

2014 Roster Bonus

$15 million

Guaranteed Salaries

2013-2014

Guaranteed Salaries

2015 – $2 million

12 Games Active Bonus

$1 million 2014-2018

This contract would have a very manageable cap hit in the first two years, before going up in 2015, the same year that the new TV contract is expected to raise the salary cap significantly. The cap hits would remain manageable until 2017, at which point, much of the bonuses would be exhausted, opening the door for a Brady-like renegotiation.Aaron Rodgers’ contract would pay him $30 million the day he signs, $58 million the first two years, and the full $70 million guaranteed within the first three years of the contract. Meanwhile, it would actually lower his cap hit for 2013 by nearly $2 million, creating even more room for Matthews.

The contract for Matthews would give him $30 million the day he signed it, $48 million in the first two years, and $50 million guaranteed within the first three years. It would be front-loaded to take advantage of the $15 million available in cap space in 2013, which should still leave the Packers over $10 million in space to sign their draft class, Sam Shields and Evan Dietrich-Smith.

After the bigger hit in 2013, his cap hit would actually go down for the next two years, which would help accommodate Rodgers’ cap hit going up. I have also included a $1 million bonus for every season Matthews plays at least 12 games, which would potentially save the Packers money if his injuries ever sideline him extensively. While this contract can easily be renegotiated starting in 2016, its cap hit never rises above $20 million, making it possible that it could be served out.

Combined Hit

% of CAP

$23,000,000

18.55%

$26,500,000

22.00%

$36,500,000

26.07%

$40,500,000

27.93%

$48,500,000

32.33%

$60,000,000

38.71%

Listed above are the combined cap hits of both contracts starting in 2013 and the percentage of the projected salary cap they would occupy. As you can see, after these contracts were signed, Rodgers and Matthews would take up about one-fifth of the overall cap in the first two years and one-fourth in the second two years before finally going above 30 percent in 2017. However, as already seen, both contracts could be renegotiated by 2017 to make sure that never happens.

So, fear not, Packers fans. If I can construct a couple extremely generous contracts that would not take up more than 28 percent of the salary cap for the next four years, then one would think Russ Ball can do even better. Of course, the players will have something to say about that.

Do you really believe Matthews contract will average more than 16 mil a year? I said last week I thought it would be 13 mil so I guess I will stick with it. He does deserve to be one of the highest paid players in the NFL. They would absolutely have to restructure before the final season in these contracts. Obviously that would be the plan but 60 mil between the two the last year is insane.

The tough thing about these contracts is does any1 have an idea how far the cap number will go up after the TV deals? If they have a clue they can do about what you did and put a big hit on their cap in 2015. Would have to be the best way to do this.

I personally believe we will see both of these done very soon. I’m absolutely no genius when it comes to Contracts and the Cap but I enjoyed this article. Thanks.

Shields needs to be dealt with also. I hope they can get him on a 4-5 year contract. He earned it last year. The thing that worries me is Williams contract after his big season. I would consider Shields ’12 season as better but most likely the contract won’t be as high. Hopefully they can get him on a 5 year contract worth 5-6 mil a year.

Mario Williams signed a 6 year $96 million contract last offseason. I do believe Matthews and his agent would like to get above that.

Really, the final numbers and the average money per year doesn’t matter. What matters is the amount of guaranteed money and money up front.

Williams got $50 million guaranteed, but he has to wait years to get it all. My contract has Matthews getting $48 million guaranteed within the first 2 years of the contract. Tough for anyone to pass that up.

I have what I would call “respect money” added on to the end of both contracts. That money enables the player and his agent to tout the biggest contract at his position. However, in reality, it is fake money. I would expect both contracts to be torn up or renegotiated before any of that money is collected.

Rodgers looks doable. Mathews is not getting $16 million a season. Not in green bay. Mario Williams was an (overrated) unrestricted FA and got silly money from a desperate franchise to play in Buffalo. I put that in the Haynesworth-Washington category.

Mathews will essentially get his last year of his rookie contract bought out and be in the Demarcus Ware category ($12-13) million a year) where he belongs.

Demarcus Ware signed his current contract back in 2009. It originally was 7 years for $79 million. That is more than $11 million per year on a contract signed FIVE years ago.

Again, it is possible the Packers may get Matthews for that kind of money IF they include enough front-loaded guaranteed money to entice him to sign. That is really what it comes down to, not the average money per year since that is just a function of the amount of fictional money heaped onto the back end of the deal.

I don’t like the idea of signing Clay long term. I think his career will continue to be marred by injuries and that he will only play a full 16 game season here or there from now on.

I think they should sign a reasonable 3-4 year extension with a nice guarantee up front. Something that makes him one of the highest if not the highest paid player at his position, but not stretch our to 6 years or beyond.

Brilliant Shawn!! Great job. About time someone actually uses logic and actual facts to make an argument rather than a trying to pass a steaming pile of shit off as a chocolate cream pie as Vijay is known to do….